Our Spiritual Warfare

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Introduction: We are in a war. All of you may not be hearing the gunfire and seeing the smoke rise as the enemy attacks but that does not mean that the war has ceased. There are other people and other times perhaps even now where the sky is filled with smoke and gunshots are going off left and right. What should we do in such times? What should we be looking for? Why is the enemy attacking so strong? Who will help us?

I.           The Nature of Our Warfare

A.  Spiritual in Nature (Ephesians 6:12)

                              1.   The war is not with your spouse

                              2.   The war is not with your children

                              3.   The war is not with your boss

                              4.   The war is not with your brothers and sisters in Christ

                              5.   It is spiritual and the enemy is spiritual

B.  Physical in Manifestation

                              1.   Job

i.    Oxen and Asses taken away and servants killed (Job 1:14-15)

ii.   Fire came down and burnt up the sheep and the servants (Job 1:16)

iii.  The camels have been taken and the servants killed (Job 1:17)

iv.   The sons and daughters are dead. The wind blew the house down while they were inside. (Job 1:18-19)

v.    Job was smitten with boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. (Job 2:7-8)

                              2.   Paul

i.    39 stripes from the Jews (5 times) (2Corinthians 11:24)

ii.   3 times beaten with rods (2Corinthians 11:25)

iii.  stoned (2Corinthians 11:25)

iv.   3 times suffered shipwreck (2Corinthians 11:25)

v.    In troubles by all different groups (2Corinthians 11:26)

vi.   In weariness and painfulness (2Corinthians 11:27)

vii.  In hunger and thirst (2Corinthians 11:27)

viii. In cold and nakedness (2Corinthians 11:27) 

II.          The Purpose of Our Warfare

A.  Satan

                              1.   1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

B.  God

                              1.   To strengthen us

                              2.   To drive us to prayer (Ephesians 6:18)

                              3.   To conquer more territory for the Lord’s sake

III.         The Armor of Our Warfare

A.  Our Weapons of Defense

                              1.   Loins girt about with truth (Ephesians 6:14)

                              2.   Breastplate of righteousness (Ephesians 6:14)

                              3.   Feet shod with preparation of the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15)

                              4.   Shield of Faith (Ephesians 6:16)

                              5.   Helmet of Salvation (Ephesians 6:17)

B.  Our Weapons of Offense

                              1.   Sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17)

                              2.   Prayer (Ephesians 6:18)

C.  Our Captain

                              1.   His Experience

i.    He led the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage

ii.   He was the captain of the Lord’s host that appeared to Joshua just before Jericho (Joshua 5:13-15)

iii.  He took Gideon’s 300 men and defeated the much larger Midianite army (Judges 7:19-22)

iv.   He defeated Sennacherib and the Assyrians when He single handedly wiped out 185,000 in one night (Isaiah 37:36)

v.    He overcame the temptation of Satan to forego the cross (Matthew 4:1-11)

vi.   He conquered death, hell and the grave

                              2.   His Completion

i.    He’s coming again to finish off all of His enemies (Revelation 19:11-21; 20:9-14)

Conclusion: When the fog rolls back and the smoke vanishes from the battle scene, will you be standing? Better yet, will your brothers and sisters in Christ be standing? Has the enemy attacked your home? If so, don’t quit. Stand. Call for backup from your brothers and sisters and ask them for prayer. Endure the present battle, but when it’s over, realize that the war is not over until the trumpet sounds.